#italy

Lady with an Ermine Masterpiece Stories

Masterpiece Story: Lady with an Ermine by Leonardo da Vinci

One of the greatest masterpieces of Western art, Lady with an Ermine by Leonardo da Vinci, presents Cecilia Gallerani (ca. 1473-1536). Young,...

Zuzanna Stańska 15 April 2023

Ancient Rome

Masterpiece Story: Mithras Slaying the Bull

Mithras Slaying the Bull is a compilation of the entire religious and symbolic images of Mithraism. It reflects promised immortality and personal...

James W Singer 14 April 2023

Baroque

Four Groundbreaking Buildings by Francesco Borromini

Francesco Borromini (1599-1667) was the most innovative and imaginative architect of the Italian Baroque tradition. Along with his contemporaries...

Alexandra Kiely 10 April 2023

Renaissance

Raphael – Renaissance Prince of Painters

Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, in English known as Raphael, is famous for the harmony and clarity of form within his visually brilliant paintings. He...

Candy Bedworth 6 April 2023

History

The Story of Raphael’s Lost Portrait of a Young Man

Have you ever seen this painting? It is currently missing; in fact, it has been missing since 1945. Let’s explore the story of one of the most...

Zuzanna Stańska 6 April 2023

Bizarre

The Curious Lure and Strange Beauty of Ancient Anatomical Votives

Eerie, mysterious, and fascinating, ancient anatomical votives represent literal parts of people’s past. When most people think of a votive object,...

Marga Patterson 3 April 2023

Andrea Mantegna, Bridal Chamber, Ocluus. Mantua, Italy. Renaissance

Fooling the Eye: Illusionistic Games in Andrea Mantegna’s Bridal Chamber

A masterpiece of the early Italian Renaissance, Andrea Mantegna’s Bridal Chamber has been described as the most beautiful room in the world.

Natalia Iacobelli 30 March 2023

Conservators restoring Plautilla Nelli’s Last Supper, found by Jane Fortune and her association. Women Artists

Art Detective Jane Fortune: Rediscovering Forgotten Female Artists

When Jane Fortune arrived in Florence in the 1960s to study art she was left with one burning question: where are the women artists? As she often...

Natalia Iacobelli 20 March 2023

Facts about Botticelli: Probable self-portrait of Botticelli, in his Adoration of the Magi, 1475, Uffizi, Florence, Italy. Wikimedia Commons (public domain). Artist Stories

Seven Key Facts You Must Know About Sandro Botticelli

1. Botticelli Started Early Facts About Sandro Botticelli: Sandro Botticelli, Fortitude, 1470, Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy. Wikimedia Commons...

Zuzanna Stańska 18 March 2023

La Primavera Botticelli: Masterpiece Stories

Masterpiece Story: La Primavera by Sandro Botticelli

La Primavera, which means “Spring” in Italian, is without a doubt the most famous painting of Sandro Botticelli. Its mysterious allure continues...

Anastasia Manioudaki 18 March 2023

Still from The White Lotus, Fabio Lovino/HBO. Theater & Cinema

Discover Sicilian Art with The White Lotus Season 2 (No Spoilers)

Season two of The White Lotus on HBO Max has gained much press recently about its filming location in Sicily, Italy. Through interviews with the cast...

Anna Ingram 17 March 2023

Erotica

Erotic Art in Pompeii and Herculaneum (NSFW!)

Erotic art in Pompeii and Herculaneum is a phenomenon often omitted from textbooks about ancient history. These famous Roman cities destroyed by the...

Zuzanna Stańska 15 March 2023